Rapid Transit

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by NortheastWind

There would have to be a much higher frequency of busses on the A-Line for it to work. I was born, raised and still reside on the east mountain and only take a bus on the odd occasion. I would rather meander my way downtown than transfer to another bus on Upper James if I have to wait for very long, especially if there's harsh weather.

That's why you need bus lanes proper, that way other routes can get up and down faster, rather than forcing transfers.

[Jon Dalton]

I'm becoming more and more skeptical of LRT to the airport ever making sense. Unless we are predicting a lot of residential growth between Rymal and the airport those trains will never be full. The passenger volume just doesn't justify it. And they've been trying to pump the airport for decades - it's not as if change is just around the corner. That is a lot of non-revenue miles that will really juice the operating cost. Why not run it to parts of the mountain where people live?

I think we need to reexamine the idea of running it up the mountain to Mohawk College and then to Limeridge Mall. This was in the 1981 rapid transit plan and it made sense then even when the mountain was less developed.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^I wonder if the discussion shouldn't be about BRT on Mohawk.

I can't help but think the answer for the Mountain is simply more buses rather than rapid transit per se. Unless, I suppose, it's part of a larger plan to intensify/ urbanise certain corridors, then maybe.

Again, not sure where the need is. I just don't see it on Upper James - not the southern part of it (ie the airport), at least.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by NortheastWind

There would have to be a much higher frequency of busses on the A-Line for it to work. I was born, raised and still reside on the east mountain and only take a bus on the odd occasion. I would rather meander my way downtown than transfer to another bus on Upper James if I have to wait for very long, especially if there's harsh weather.

I agree -- frequency is a key to making it work. That would be the point of higher-order bus service on a north-south route above the escarpment. The current 30-min peak-period A-line 20 "express" service is still poor in comparison to what I'd expect this investment to provide, if that is indeed the new plan.

Another key is beefed up east-west service along Rymal, Mohawk, and Fennell.

[Bubba9000]

To succeed, high order transit must be aligned with land use. Unless the uses along any mountain corridor are drastically intensified, there is no case for LRT or BRT.

The existing LRT plan is based on a coordinated land use plan

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Bubba9000

To succeed, high order transit must be aligned with land use. Unless the uses along any mountain corridor are drastically intensified, there is no case for LRT or BRT.

The existing LRT plan is based on a coordinated land use plan

I agree. The corridor's role in the transportation network is important too though. (and the flipside is that a successful land use plan depends on transportation)

Regardless, the city's urban Official Plan has identified James & Upper James as the primary north-south urban corridor, with long sections of Mohawk and Rymal as secondary corridors.
See Schedule E

I would think that detailed land use planning for this corridor would accelerate if a BRT (or even "BRT-lite") is going to be funded sooner than expected along James/U.James.

[SteelTown]

News on changes to Hamilton’s LRT plan ‘imminent’
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7093689-news-on-changes-to-hamilton-s-lrt-plan-imminent-/

Hamilton Spectator
By Matthew Van Dongen

Metrolinx expects to formally test bidder interest on Hamilton's $1-billion LRT project "within days."

That means residents can expect news soon on the fate of a two-kilometre light rail transit spur planned for James Street North.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger acknowledged earlier this month the province was rethinking a plan to run LRT cars up James Street North to the new GO station in addition to the 11-kilometre main line between McMaster University and the Queenston traffic circle.

Sources told The Spectator the agency was looking instead at some form of express bus service on the A-line, potentially running from the harbour to the airport. They said an announcement could come as early as this week.

Jamie Robinson, Metrolinx community relations director, said Monday he couldn't comment on "speculation" regarding possible project scope changes.

But he said the agency wants to issue a formal project request for quotations "within days" — and before that happens, "we have to ensure the project scope is locked down."

Eisenberger said Monday he expects an "imminent" announcement about the project, but added he couldn't point to a date or shed light on the specific details.

He reiterated he understood there have been discussions about potential scope changes to the A line and said his expectation is they involved "bus-oriented" options.

The rumoured project changes — and lack of publicly released details — have frustrated some city councillors.

Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, a LRT supporter, complained last week about important, costly transit decisions being made "on the back of a napkin."

He expressed frustration about the lack of consultation ahead of time, adding he didn't like being caught "flat-footed" by media reports the province could axe the James Street LRT spur.

Another, better publicized change to the light rail plan is also likely after Monday's LRT subcommittee meeting: a new Bay Street stop.

The committee of councillors, chamber of commerce members and other stakeholders endorsed the idea of adding a $2.6-million platform at Bay Street, despite the existence of nearby stops within about 400 metres.

Hamilton LRT point person Paul Johnson told committee members planners don't expect the proposed new stop to necessarily result in increased ridership.

But Hamilton Chamber of Commerce head Keanin Loomis emphasized widespread support from businesses, institutions and developers near the busy downtown intersection.

He has suggested the stop would become one of the busiest on the line stretching from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle.

Coun. Terry Whitehead, a frequent critic of the project plan, urged support for the added stop, calling it a "clear opportunity to enhance the economic uplift" associated with the light rail line.

Metrolinx and city planners expect to bring the updated environmental assessment for the project to council for approval in late March.

[NortheastWind]

Nothing new in this article, other than "Metrolinx expects to formally test bidder interest on Hamilton's $1-billion LRT project "within days."

[SteelTown]

Announcement coming Thursday on LRT and Hamilton transit

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7097668-announcement-coming-thursday-on-lrt-and-hamilton-transit/

Local politicians are expecting news about the fate of the Hamilton's James Street A-line spur when Ontario's transportation minister comes to town Thursday.

Minister Steven Del Duca and top Metrolinx officials are slated to make an unspecified announcement about "improving public transit" at the Hunter Street GO station at 9 a.m.

But Mayor Fred Eisenberger acknowledged last month the provincial transit agency was rethinking the part of Hamilton's $1-billion LRT plan that would see light rail cars traveling up a James Street spur to the new GO station in favour of a more "bus-oriented" approach.

Other sources told The Spectator some sort of express bus or dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) service was being contemplated for the entire James Street-Upper James corridor, perhaps as far south as Rymal Road or the airport.

Coun. Sam Merulla said he understood the announcement to be a response to his motion last year calling on Metrolinx to incorporate more transit improvements to the A-line in tandem with the light rail transit project along the east-west B-line.

"I'm encouraged that they're responding with a project amendment that will better incorporate the Mountain and its residents, as well as improve the sustainability of our entire transit system," he said.

It's also possible there is other transit news on the horizon, however.

CN and Metrolinx have been working to extend another railroad track from Aldershot to the West Harbour GO station with the eventual goal of upping infrequent GO Train service to the city. A new bridge to allow for that track was added across the Desjardins Canal in December.

Metrolinx wouldn't provide a timeline for that construction Thursday, other than to say it is "working closely with CN to finalize construction plans" for the new track.

The agency plans to extend more frequent train service to Hamilton within 10 years, but it remains unclear when the new West Harbour station can expect to see more than two Toronto-bound trains leaving each morning.

The Hunter Street station, which is on a CPR-owned line, sees four trains each morning.

[SteelTown]

You can watch the announcement live tomorrow at 9am in this youtube clip below

• Video Link

[SteelTown]

Announcement is happening now

[SteelTown]

16km BRT for A-Line moving forward, this is an addition to the 2km spur line.

[LikeHamilton]

Lost the race.

[SteelTown]

Infrastructure Ontario officially going ahead with RFP for LRT project.

[SteelTown]

So basically B-Line and A-Line has provincial commitment.

Metrolinx will work on A-Line plans. Cost will be determined in the future, after the plan is made.

[SteelTown]

https://twitter.com/SamCraggsCBC

[mishap]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

16km BRT for A-Line moving forward, this is an addition to the 2km spur line.

You sure? That's not what I got watching the announcement. They said the total would hold at 1 billion dollars, and building a BRT over the LRT wouldn't help the costs.

Update: Del Duca is being questioned about the "switch" from rail to bus, so it looks BRT.

Update 2: You updated before I did. You're quick. ;-)

[SteelTown]

https://twitter.com/SamCraggsCBC

[Express691]

Im from Surrey BC and the mayor here wants to build street level rapid transit along 2 of our busiest corridors at-grade.

What prompted the decision to swich to LRT? I only read that there was a surpassing and high amount of opposition.

[SteelTown]

Here's the active RFQ, closes on March 29, 2017

Infrastructure Ontario is undertaking an RFQ process to Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Maintain the Hamilton Light Rail Transit Project.

The Hamilton LRT will be approximately 11 kilometres long, running from a terminal at McMaster University in the west to a terminal at Queenston Circle in the east, as well as connections to the Hamilton Street Railway’s bus network at the existing MacNab Terminal in downtown Hamilton. The McMaster and Queenston terminals are expected to be intermodal facilities serving both LRT and bus passengers. The Hamilton LRT is expected to have a total of 14 at-grade stops along the Main Street / King Street corridor and will operate in a separated guideway with traffic priority throughout most of the route.

Full details, including scope and delivery method are included in the RFQ, which is available only through MERX, RFP No. 16-459.

Key date(s)* are as follows:

Submission Deadline: March 29, 2016 before 2:00 p.m.
Question & Answer Deadline: March 8, 2016, before 5:00 pm

https://www.merx4.merx.com/public/solicitations/384353304/abstract